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03 May 2025
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02 May 2025
Home, Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

Soviet Space Probe to Fall to Earth 50 Years After Baikonur Launch

In 1972, the Soviet Union launched a Venus-bound lander probe called Cosmos 482 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, which was then a Soviet republic. The probe, which never got out of Earth’s orbit, is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere in a week or so.

“Because the probe was designed to withstand entry into the Venus atmosphere, it is possible the probe (or parts of it) will survive reentry at Earth and reach the surface,” U.S. space agency NASA said on Friday.

“It is thought that a malfunction resulted in an engine burn which did not achieve sufficient velocity for the Venus transfer and left the payload in this elliptical Earth orbit. The lander probe orbit has been decaying over time and it is expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere around 10 May 2025,” NASA said.

Right now, it’s hard to say where the lander will make its return. It’s possible that the spacecraft, or chunks of it, could survive reentry through the Earth’s atmosphere instead of burning up. After all, it has a titanium protective shell originally designed to get through the extreme atmosphere of Venus, which has the hottest surface of any planet in the solar system.

Dr. Marco Langbroek, a scientist based in the Netherlands, said on the SatTrackCam Leiden (b)log that he doesn’t think the lander’s parachute deployment system will work during the “uncontrolled” reentry.

“There are many uncertain factors in this though, including that this will be a long shallow reentry trajectory, and the age of the object,” Langbroek said. “The risks involved are not particularly high, but not zero: with a mass of just under 500 kg and 1-meter size, risks are similar to that of a meteorite impact.”

Today, Russia operates the Baikonur Cosmodrome, which retains a popular allure for its role in early space exploration and is still a vital part of the Russian space program.

On April 20, one NASA astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts made a parachute-supported landing on the steppes of Kazakhstan after a journey back to Earth from the International Space Station. The three men had launched from Baikonur and docked at the station on Sept. 11 last year, spending 220 days in space on that trip.

02 May 2025
Home, Uzbekistan Lead Story, Uzbekistan, International Affairs, Features, Uzbekistan International Affairs

U.S. Cuts Funding for Uzbek Cotton Transparency Project

On April 30, during a cabinet meeting at the White House attended by President Donald Trump, U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced the cancellation of more than $38 million in foreign aid programs, including funding for a project aimed at improving transparency and labor practices in Uzbekistan’s cotton industry.

“We have saved $250 million by canceling foreign aid programs under ‘America Last,’” said Chavez-DeRemer, referring to initiatives the Trump administration believes do not align with U.S. interests. “It makes no sense for our funds to be spent on such things. Thank you DOGE for the savings. What we found was fraud.”

Chavez-DeRemer’s reference to DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, drew laughter in the room. Musk added, “Some of these things are so ridiculous you can’t believe it! Uzbek cotton farmers?! It sounds like a comedy sketch.”

The targeted Uzbek cotton project began in August 2022 and was initially scheduled to run through 2026. It received $2 million in its first year, with a further $1 million planned for 2025. The project aimed to improve labor conditions and prevent forced labor in Uzbekistan’s cotton sector, while helping workers and employers meet international standards.

In a video statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Chavez-DeRemer reinforced the administration’s shift in aid priorities: “On day one, I promised that putting American workers first will be our top priority. At the direction of President Trump, we have wasted no time. Last week, we terminated several foreign aid grants, saving over $38 million… I bet you didn’t even know your hard-earned tax dollars were being spent on things like enhancing transparency in Uzbekistan’s cotton industry, supporting labor standards in Congo, or climate change programs in Brazil and Colombia.”

Uzbekistan’s cotton industry has long been under international scrutiny for the systemic use of forced labor. In recent years, however, the government has undertaken reforms and introduced strict monitoring systems to address these concerns with support from international partners, leading to organizations such as Cotton Campaign ending its call for a global boycott of Uzbek cotton. Additionally, the industry is being modernized through privatization and investments in technology, aiming to boost efficiency and sustainability.

02 May 2025
Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan Lead Story, Kyrgyzstan, Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics

Kyrgyzstan Proposes Closure of All Rural Libraries

Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers has submitted a draft bill for public consultation that proposes the closure of all rural libraries across the country, citing declining readership and poor infrastructure as the primary reasons behind the move.

According to the draft law, the heads of rural administrations are required to assess the operational efficiency and relevance of local libraries within three months. Libraries deemed underutilized or ineffective are to be closed, with their book collections transferred to school libraries in the same regions.

The Ministry of Culture reports that Kyrgyzstan currently has 1,050 libraries: 859 rural, 9 regional, 64 district, and 116 urban. Of these, 51 libraries are considered structurally unsound, while 214 require major repairs.

“Unfortunately, even those institutions that remain open often suffer from extremely low attendance. Data on the number of visitors and subscribers are often invalid and may be distorted, creating an illusion of library activity. This creates a misconception about the demand for services that do not actually meet the needs of the local population,” reads the bill’s explanatory note.

The document’s authors estimate that over half of the country’s libraries are effectively non-operational and argue that functioning cultural institutions lack sufficient material and technical support.

With the growth of digital technologies, traditional libraries, particularly in rural areas, are losing popularity, especially among younger generations, according to the proposal’s initiators.

02 May 2025
Central Asia, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Cyberattacks Double in Kazakhstan in Early 2025

Kazakhstan experienced a sharp increase in cyberattacks during the first quarter of 2025, with 30,000 information security incidents recorded between January and May, double the number reported during the same period in 2024.

According to data from research agency Ranking.kz, the most significant growth was observed in botnet-related activity, including spam mailings, password cracking, and remote system intrusions that cause service disruptions. Such incidents surged to 17,600 in the first quarter of 2025, compared to just 1,700 a year earlier.

Conversely, attacks involving computer viruses, worms, and Trojans declined by 17.9% year-on-year, totaling 7,900 cases. However, phishing attempts targeting Kazakhstani users rose by 37.2%, reaching 2,000 reported incidents.

Other categories saw a decrease. Cases involving inaccessibility of internet resources dropped by 48.1% to 112, while distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks fell to 23, down from 30 in the same period last year. Incidents of unauthorized access or modification of digital content also declined slightly, with nine reported cases versus 13 previously.

Despite the rise in cyber threats, Kazakhstan’s IT sector continues to demonstrate robust growth. In 2024, the value of services in computer programming, consulting, and related fields reached 1.5 trillion tenge (approximately $2.9 billion), a 36.3% increase compared to 2023. Since 2016, the volume of services in this sector has expanded more than tenfold, and by over fivefold since 2019.

Regionally, Almaty and Astana dominated the sector, accounting for 90.2% of all IT services provided. Almaty led with KZT 853.1 billion ($1.6 billion), followed by Astana with KZT 486.7 billion ($950 million). The lowest activity was recorded in the Ulytau region, with only KZT 712.3 million ($1.3 million) in services.

Separately, The Times of Central Asia previously reported that a Chinese firm involved in cyber intelligence operations had been active in Kazakhstan for several years, accessing telecom data over an extended period.

02 May 2025
Central Asia, Uzbekistan, International Affairs, Uzbekistan International Affairs

South Korean Firm to Oversee Modernization of Uzbekistan’s Urgench Airport

South Korea’s Incheon International Airport Corporation has secured the contract to manage and modernize Urgench Airport in Uzbekistan’s Khorezm region, following a competitive international tender.

The open tender, announced in August 2024, attracted bids from eight companies across France, South Korea, Turkey, Qatar, and other countries. The selection of the Korean corporation underscores growing economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and South Korea.

On May 1, during a visit to Khorezm, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with representatives from Incheon International Airport Corporation to discuss the details of the modernization project.

Valued at $223 million, the project includes the construction of a new runway, state-of-the-art passenger and cargo terminals, and the installation of modern lighting and signaling systems in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.

Construction and renovation are scheduled for completion by 2027. Once modernized, Urgench Airport will be capable of handling large aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A350. The redesigned passenger terminal will accommodate 1,300 passengers per hour, more than triple its current capacity of 400.

The initiative aims to transform Urgench Airport into a regional aviation hub, enhancing access to Khorezm, a region celebrated for its rich cultural and historical heritage. Officials hope the improved infrastructure will further boost tourism.

“Khorezm is seeing a construction boom, with new hotels, recreation zones, and shopping centers,” said Mirziyoyev. “Our goal is to increase tourist arrivals to five million people. If the airport infrastructure rises to meet this scale, it will generate mutual benefit and revenue growth.”

During his visit, the president reviewed design concepts for the future terminal and emphasized the importance of incorporating traditional Uzbek cultural motifs in both the exterior and interior design.

02 May 2025
Draft, Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan Local Politics, Local Politics, Features, Turkmenistan Lead Story

Turkmen Cultural Workers Fired Over Refusal to Fund Presidential TV Monitor

Another case of forced financial contributions among civil servants has emerged in Turkmenistan. In early April, four employees of the Kerki district’s cultural department were dismissed after protesting salary deductions. The funds were intended to finance the purchase of a television monitor designated to display images of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

Salary Deductions Without Consent

According to an order from local authorities, 230 Turkmenistan Manat (TMT) was deducted from the March salaries of employees at urban and rural cultural centers to pay for a large monitor at the Kerki Palace of Culture. Given that average monthly salaries range between 1,800-2,100 TMT (officially $514-$600, unofficially $92-$108), the deduction represented a significant portion of income.

The monitor was meant to display the president’s image against a national flag backdrop during official events. At other times, it remained unused. Several employees independently refused the deduction and were subsequently dismissed. Among them was a cleaning staff member.

Coercion and Unofficial Duties

One of the dismissed workers, a resident of Taze Usul village, reported that such deductions are routine. Employees are also compelled to engage in activities beyond their job descriptions, such as growing silkworm cocoons, harvesting cotton, and cleaning streets ahead of official visits. These tasks often occur on weekends and public holidays.

Following their refusal to pay, the dismissed workers were allegedly visited by police, who pressured them into signing resignation letters citing “health reasons.”

“I wrote several letters to the etrap and velayat hakims, and to the Minister of Culture in Ashgabat. No action was taken, except my dismissal,” said one of the affected employees.

As a result of the dismissals, only two individuals remain at each cultural center in the Kerki district, now personally bearing the costs of maintenance, repairs, and event organization.

Pattern of Enforced Contributions

This incident is part of a broader pattern. In January 2025, civil servants in the newly built city of Arkadag, including teachers and librarians, were reportedly pressured to purchase homes on mortgage, with down payments ranging from 75,000 to 80,000 TMT ($21,428-$22,857).

In May 2024, state agency heads in Balkan velayat were ordered to purchase souvenir watches featuring portraits of former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and his son, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Prices ranged from 1,500 to 3,000 TMT ($428-$857) depending on seniority.

Similar practices go back years. In August 2020, civil servants in Farap were compelled to buy domestically manufactured televisions, with 2,400 TMT ($685) deducted from their salaries in advance. Delivery was delayed by months. In February 2018, state employees had to pay for bicycles to join a mass bike ride, with contributions per worker depending on the institutional size. The cost of a bicycle reached 4,000 TMT ($1,142).

According to civil servants, refusal to participate in such initiatives increasingly results in job loss, a sign of deepening authoritarian control in Turkmenistan’s public sector.

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